diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0b32068..6dafe52 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ The `file` parameter is the base64 encoded file which will be cleaned.
 **Example Response:**
 ```json
 {
+    "inactive_after_sec": 120,
     "output_filename": "fancy.cleaned.jpg",
     "mime": "image/jpg",
     "key": "81a541f9ebc0233d419d25ed39908b16f82be26a783f32d56c381559e84e6161",
@@ -175,6 +176,7 @@ The `key` parameter is the key from a previously uploaded file.
 **Example Response:**
 ```json
 {
+    "inactive_after_sec": 120,
     "output_filename": "files.2cd225d5-2d75-44a2-9f26-e120a87e4279.cleaned.zip",
     "mime": "application/zip",
     "key": "5ee4cf8821226340d3d5ed16bd2e1b435234a9ad218f282b489a85d116e7a4c4",
diff --git a/matweb/file_removal_scheduler.py b/matweb/file_removal_scheduler.py
index 2ce7912..59bb9ca 100644
--- a/matweb/file_removal_scheduler.py
+++ b/matweb/file_removal_scheduler.py
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import sys
 import os
 import random
 
+from matweb import utils
+
 
 def run_file_removal_job(upload_folder_path):
     if random.randint(0, 10) == 0:
@@ -18,7 +20,7 @@ def delete_file_when_too_old(filepath):
     last_time = time.time() - file_mod_time
 
     # if file is older than our configured max timeframe, delete it
-    if last_time > int(os.environ.get('MAT2_MAX_FILE_AGE_FOR_REMOVAL', 15 * 60)):
+    if last_time > utils.get_file_removal_max_age_sec():
         try:
             os.remove(filepath)
         except OSError:
diff --git a/matweb/rest_api.py b/matweb/rest_api.py
index a07d2d2..f893fca 100644
--- a/matweb/rest_api.py
+++ b/matweb/rest_api.py
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ class APIUpload(Resource):
 
         key, secret, meta_after, output_filename = utils.cleanup(parser, filepath, self.upload_folder)
         return utils.return_file_created_response(
+            utils.get_file_removal_max_age_sec(),
             output_filename,
             mime,
             key,
@@ -133,6 +134,7 @@ class APIBulkDownloadCreator(Resource):
             abort(500, message='Unable to clean %s' % mime)
         key, secret, meta_after, output_filename = utils.cleanup(parser, zip_path, self.upload_folder)
         return {
+                   'inactive_after_sec': utils.get_file_removal_max_age_sec(),
                    'output_filename': output_filename,
                    'mime': mime,
                    'key': key,
diff --git a/matweb/utils.py b/matweb/utils.py
index 20c213d..915d735 100644
--- a/matweb/utils.py
+++ b/matweb/utils.py
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ def check_upload_folder(upload_folder):
 
 
 def return_file_created_response(
+        inactive_after_sec: int,
         output_filename: str,
         mime: str,
         key: str,
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@ def return_file_created_response(
         download_link: str
 ) -> dict:
     return {
+        'inactive_after_sec': inactive_after_sec,
         'output_filename': output_filename,
         'mime': mime,
         'key': key,
@@ -106,3 +108,7 @@ def is_valid_api_download_file(filename: str, key: str, secret: str, upload_fold
     if hmac.compare_digest(hash_file(complete_path, secret), key) is False:
         abort(400, message='The file hash does not match')
     return complete_path, filepath
+
+
+def get_file_removal_max_age_sec() -> int:
+    return int(os.environ.get('MAT2_MAX_FILE_AGE_FOR_REMOVAL', 15 * 60))
diff --git a/test/test.py b/test/test.py
index 6734dcf..97e7567 100644
--- a/test/test.py
+++ b/test/test.py
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ class Mat2WebTestCase(TestCase):
 
         request = app.get(self.get_context_variable('download_uri'))
         self.assertEqual(302, request.status_code)
-        os.environ['MAT2_MAX_FILE_AGE_FOR_REMOVAL'] = '9999'
+        os.environ['MAT2_MAX_FILE_AGE_FOR_REMOVAL'] = str(15*60)
 
     def test_info_page(self):
         rv = self.client.get('/info')
@@ -191,7 +191,6 @@ class Mat2WebTestCase(TestCase):
         self.assertIn(b'Invalid Filename', rv.data)
 
 
-
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     unittest.main()
 
diff --git a/test/test_api.py b/test/test_api.py
index 63955d0..1a50aa6 100644
--- a/test/test_api.py
+++ b/test/test_api.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ class Mat2APITestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(request.status_code, 200)
 
         data = request.get_json()
-        self.assertEqual(data['output_filename'], 'test_name.cleaned.jpg')
+        self.assertEqual(data['inactive_after_sec'], 15 * 60)
         self.assertEqual(data['output_filename'], 'test_name.cleaned.jpg')
         self.assertEqual(data['mime'], 'image/jpeg')
         self.assertEqual(len(data['secret']), 64)
@@ -237,6 +237,7 @@ class Mat2APITestCase(unittest.TestCase):
 
         self.assertIn('files.', response['output_filename'])
         self.assertIn('cleaned.zip', response['output_filename'])
+        self.assertEquals(15 * 60, response['inactive_after_sec'])
         self.assertIn(response['mime'], 'application/zip')
         self.assertEqual(response['meta_after'], {})
 
@@ -387,7 +388,7 @@ class Mat2APITestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         randint_mock.return_value = 0
         self.upload_download_test_jpg_and_assert_response_code(app, 404)
 
-        os.environ['MAT2_MAX_FILE_AGE_FOR_REMOVAL'] = '9999'
+        os.environ['MAT2_MAX_FILE_AGE_FOR_REMOVAL'] = str(15 * 60)
 
     def upload_download_test_jpg_and_assert_response_code(self, app, code):
         request = app.post('/api/upload',
diff --git a/test/test_file_removal_scheduler.py b/test/test_file_removal_scheduler.py
index 1210cb2..563fc73 100644
--- a/test/test_file_removal_scheduler.py
+++ b/test/test_file_removal_scheduler.py
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ class Mat2WebTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         randint_mock.return_value = 0
         file_removal_scheduler.run_file_removal_job(self.app.config['UPLOAD_FOLDER'])
         self.assertTrue(path.exists(path.join(self.upload_folder, filename)))
+        environ['MAT2_MAX_FILE_AGE_FOR_REMOVAL'] = str(15 * 60)
 
     def tearDown(self):
         shutil.rmtree(self.upload_folder)